Last Sunday, Col. Calvin Elam was promoted to the rank of brigadier general at the McEntire Joint National Guard Base outside of Columbia.

Elam, who was serving as the assistant adjutant general for Air for the South Carolina National Guard was promoted by the Adjutant General, Maj. Gen. Robert E. Livingston. "Cal has had a long and distinguished career in the Air Force and the South Carolina Air National Guard and this promotion to brigadier general culminates many years of hard work and dedicated service to his state and nation. He is the epitome of the Citizen-Airman," said Livingston.

Elam was born in Greenwood, SC and commissioned in December of 1988, when he graduated from the Air National Guard’s Academy of Military Science. Prior to his commissioning, he was an enlisted Airman, spending six years on active duty culminating his active duty career as a Contracting Specialist. He obtained a Bachelor of Science Degree in Business Marketing from the University of South Carolina’s Darla Moore School of Business.

As a civilian, Elam is Chief Executive Officer for EFG/ProVest Wealth Management Group. Elam, his wife Mary and their three children reside in Irmo.